NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — As he prepares to take workplace this weekend, Mayor-elect Eric Adams on Thursday outlined his plans to sort out the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mayor-elect says his plan is in alignment with the de Blasio administration’s, insisting that preserving in coordination is the easiest way to beat COVID.
READ MORE: Teenager Shot In Leg In East Harlem, NYPD Investigating
“I used to be cautious to not, in any approach, affect on the present mayor’s capacity to ship a really coordinated methodology, message to New Yorkers,” Adams mentioned.
However the largest distinction, he says, will probably be communication.
The mayor-elect laid out his concepts to fight COVID not lengthy earlier than town reported practically 44,000 new instances because of the Omicron variant, which is double what it reported on Wednesday.
“We’re going to observe science. The science will be sure that we will successfully take care of this COVID surge,” Adams mentioned. “We’re not going to be caught off guard once more.”
Watch: Mayor-Elect Adams Outlines Plan To Tackle COVID-19 In 2022
Adams, who will formally turn into mayor on Saturday, mentioned New York Metropolis is at a vital second within the battle towards the virus, CBS2’s John Dias reported.
“We should be taught to be smarter, dwell with COVID and be sure that we shield on a regular basis New Yorkers,” Adams mentioned.
Greater than 74,000 instances had been reported throughout the state Thursday. Single-day instances spiked, and the state’s positivity fee jumped to barely greater than 22%.
Circumstances virtually doubled in one day in New Jersey on Wednesday and practically 28,000 new instances had been reported within the state Thursday.
FIND TESTING SITES: Click here for New York City’s testing site locator, together with cellular websites and at-home appointments
Adams’ complete plan, which can principally concentrate on vaccines and testing, requires:
- A large distribution of antiviral drugs, as soon as they’re out there, significantly to communities of want.
- Passing out 2 million high-grade masks in January.
- Maintaining in place the vaccine mandate for personal sector staff (Adams mentioned he’s centered on compliance, not punishment, and will finally require boosters).
- A possible vaccine mandate for college students, with an final resolution doubtless in spring.
Till then, town will work below Mayor Bill de Blasio’s “Keep Protected and Keep Open” plan, which was introduced this week.
As for faculties, Adams promised more testing for students, CBS2’s Dave Carlin reported.
Metropolis Well being Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi joined him to elucidate the standing of vaccine mandates for faculties, that are unlikely to occur anytime quickly and rely upon motion from Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“The town will set a deadline for the spring a couple of vaccination mandate in faculties to start later in 2022,” Chokshi mentioned.
“We’re going to get by this with faces and never concern. We’re going to get by this by being ready,” Adams added.
AVOID THE LINES: Click here for NYC Health+Hospitals testing wait times
Adams reiterated town received’t shut down, one thing de Blasio has additionally been towards.
READ MORE: Multiple New Jersey School Districts Going Remote After Winter Break
“I don’t consider in shutdowns. We now have to battle our approach by COVID, and the way in which to do it’s vaccination,” de Blasio mentioned.
“We will’t shut down our metropolis once more,” Adams mentioned.
Concerning personal companies that fail to adjust to vaccine mandates, Adams mentioned, “We’re going to go to these websites the place individuals are brazenly failing to conform and ensure our metropolis companies are utilized.”
“We may even examine the necessity for what we’re calling the ‘Up-To-Date Mandate,’ which might require New Yorkers to have their booster pictures below the vaccine mandates at the moment in place,” Chokshi mentioned.
As CBS2’s Ali Bauman reviews, within the last hours earlier than his inauguration, Adams walked by what he calls the inspiration of New York’s monetary ecosystem — Broadway.
“That permits folks to come back from all around the globe to come back right here and do what all of us love, spend their cash,” Adams mentioned.
A Bronx girl who misplaced her 59-year-old husband to COVID in April advised CBS2 a shutdown would solely be price it if extra folks began to really feel her ache.
“If we begin getting an increase in deaths once more, then I feel closing town can be a superb plan, however that’s very pricey,” she mentioned.
Others disagreed.
“I feel he actually shouldn’t be scared to shut town slowly once more,” mentioned Theo Kaubish of the Upper West Side.
“A partial shutdown, however be sure that we nonetheless have important jobs,” one other man mentioned.
Different New Yorkers mentioned Adams must also concentrate on rolling out extra dependable at-home testing kits.
“For the Omicron virus, it’s not likely being detected by speedy assessments,” mentioned Tatiana Vera, a Harlem resident.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
The Food and Drug Administration has mentioned at-home, speedy antigen assessments may be much less efficient at detecting the Omicron variant. The company mentioned the assessments are nonetheless worthwhile.
“Don’t let anyone suppose that the FDA was saying that assessments are now not good. They are saying they’re much less delicate now,” Dr. Anthony Fauci mentioned.
CityMD temporarily closed another 20 locations within the metropolis to protect its capacity to workers the remaining websites, in response to officers. So, extra folks should depend on testing services run by town and state or at-home kits.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority expanded its state-funded testing operation by opening 5 extra websites, bringing the entire to seven.
Adams mentioned he plans on opening extra testing websites to alleviate lengthy strains, and he needs town to take a holistic strategy to battling COVID, which incorporates enhancing New Yorkers’ psychological well being, consuming habits and the hospital system total.
CBS2’s John Dias and Dave Carlin contributed to this report. Editor’s be aware: This story was first revealed Dec. 30.
